Contador: “I suffered a dislocation of the left shoulder…I will try to start tomorrow on stage seven”

by Shane Stokes

May 15, 2015

Photography by Cor Vos

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Speaking after x-rays and other examinations were carried out by the medical staff of the Giro d’Italia, Alberto Contador has confirmed that he suffered a serious injury but said that he will try to continue in the race.

Currently the race leader after a strong fourth place on stage five, he hit the deck on the finishing straight of Thursday’s sixth stage. He suffered a bad blow to his shoulder and also hurt his knee, although the latter injury is not too serious.

“I haven’t broken anything but I have suffered a dislocation of the left shoulder,” he said after a 30 minute medical examination carried out at the team hotel by the Giro’s mobile medical unit.

“The doctors have recommended that I immobilize my left arm during the evening and night, while I try to move it a bit with the help of my other arm to promote the movement of the shoulder.

“I will focus on this until tomorrow before the stage, where the doctors will come back to put on a layer of bandage for the race.”

Contador currently holds a two second lead over closest rival Fabio Aru (Astana), and is 20 seconds up on Team Sky’s Richie Porte. He has no intention of easily giving up on his Giro ambitions, nor on the Maglia Rosa.

“I will try to start tomorrow on stage seven,” he pledged, “as I have worked very hard ahead of the Giro.

“I will try to continue until the very last moment. I’m optimistic about the start tomorrow, but we have to wait until right before the start to see what happens and how serious the effect of the crash is.”

Italian sprinter Daniele Colli (Nippo-Vini Fantini) was the most badly hurt in the fall. He clipped a telephoto lens extended past the barriers by a spectator and clattered to the ground. Television images showed his arm rotated 180 degrees from where it should have been, and his medical examination confirmed a serious fracture.

“Rider no. 124 Daniele Colli (NIP) underwent x-ray examinations that confirmed a compound fracture of the left humerus,” stated the Giro’s official medical bulletin. “CAT scans ruled out further fractures or damage to the internal organs of the chest and abdomen.”

A great shame if this leads to an abandonment. If he crashes again then the Tour is potentially at risk, and if he continues his climbing style will be impacted. The race needs him to stay on.

Andy B

Totally agree, Its very frustrating to see GC contenders taken out in bunch sprints like this especially where a spectator looks to have caused it
With the injury I can’t see him being able to climb at his usual pace and style

Holby City

Perhaps with cortisone injections he will be able to bear the pain but is there a risk of loss of control in the descents?
Can pros get a TUE for injuries like this?

John McKenna

Wanker spectators always got to get their shots and don’t realize how tactical bike racing is.

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